CycleDog: (n) 1. An all-weather bicyclist, often regarded as one very sick puppy with a bad attitude. 2. A ankle-biting poodle with a Mohawk. (l)Canis
familiaris cyclus

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

This just in...

I received a sketchy report of a motorist/bicyclist altercation on the Wednesday night ride. A group of cyclists was climbing a hill side-by-side when an overtaking motorist decided to pass. Unfortunately, he met an on-coming car and forced his way into the pack. Insults and gestures were exchanged. The motorist pulled over, got out of his car, and assaulted a cyclist. Other cyclists arrived and the motorist fled.

9 Comments:

Eh...a while back a friend and I were out on some country roads...climbing a rather large hill when a motorist decided he needed to swing way wide to avoid hitting us (we were on the shoulder). He didn't bother slowing down and made up for his speed with distance. A large truck came around the bend and ended up going off the road to avoid the other vehicle.

Why do people put themselves in danger like this? I mean really...if we would have been a slow car the person would have just waited...but no...we're cyclists (say that cynically) and we must be over taken...even if it means risking their (the motorist's) life...

Just blatant stupidity at it's finest...especially when you can pass slowly...safely..and stay in your own lane. So what if you have to slow to 45mph, at least you'll live to tell about it! And so will the people that you're passing! All we want is to be treated like traffic! Gaw!!

It always concerns me when cars overtake on blind sections. Because I know if a car comes the other way their immediate reflex will be to move out of the way of the oncoming car....and into the cyclists.

Oh, I wonder where I got "motorcyclist" from. I must've been more tired than I thought.

Now the story makes more sense, but I'm still disappointed that people are so often in such a hurry that they think nothing of putting others (and themselves) in danger like that. And there's just no excuse for assaulting people.

Last week a friend of mine was forced off the road here in Kansas City by a car for no apparent reason; he wrecked and broke his right thumb. About 10 minutes later, the car came back and tried to attack him. He kept his distance and called the police. Luckily only one of the two in the car tried to attack him.

Because of the areas some of us ride through, we now carry expandable batons which are legal in Missouri as long as they are not concealed (and you don't kill anyone). The baton adds weight to your ride, but they also add about 3 feet of length to your arm which can be really effective in helping you keep distance from you and an attacker.

KC isn't bad; simply put there are idiot people out there with no regard for anyone but themselves.

If you are referring to me and mine: Temp tag on the car turned out to be fake. The damage to the bike wasn't too bad, only bent wheels and components and a scratched frame. My friend's right thumb will keep him from riding for a while, but the bruises and scraps are healing well. We just praise God that it wasn't worse. Thankfully he'll be back on as soon as his injuries permit!